Detroit Tigers to Recall Joe Jimenez as Jose Iglesias Hits Disabled List

The Detroit Tigers will place Jose Iglesias on the disabled list and call up reliever Joe Jimenez in his place, according to Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press.

The Detroit Tigers are once again reaching into the minor leagues to find help for the bullpen. According to Anthony Fenech on Twitter, the Tigers will bring top relief prospect Joe Jimenez back to the major leagues and place Jose Iglesias on the disabled list prior to Friday’s game in Minneapolis.

Jimenez mad one appearance for the Tigers this season — a 1-2-3 inning against the Twins on April 13 — but was immediately optioned back to the minor leagues so the club to bring up a fresh arm in his place. Players who are optioned can’t be recalled for 10 days, so Jimenez wouldn’t have been eligible for a return until next week, but there’s an exception in that rule for players replacing an injured player.

Iglesias apparently suffered a concussion on the final play of Wednesday’s loss and sat out Thursday’s series finale. His trip to the 7-day disabled list allows the Tigers to bring Jimenez back early. They’ll be a man down on the bench with the extra reliever, but the flexibility of Andrew Romine gives them options around the diamond, and both he and Dixon Machado can handle shortstop defensively.

Brad Ausmus did not appear keen to turn to Jimenez in key situations when he was up last week, but perhaps he’ll be more inclined to use him in light of the bullpen’s more recent struggles. Justin Wilson has the eighth inning locked down and it’s probably going to take a lot more to unseat Francisco Rodriguez from the ninth, but Jimenez should at least be in the mix of options.

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The Tigers are also recalling left-hander Blaine Hardy and optioning Warwick Saupold back to Toledo.